ANC vs ENC in Earbuds: Your Guide to Noise Cancellation

You previously heard about the "noise-cancelling" feature of earbuds, right? And you must be thinking this is a single feature. But you will be surprised to know that earbuds have two key noise-cancelling types, which are known as ANC and ENC. Both reduce unwanted sound, but they focus on different parts of your experience. Understanding this split is the motto of this ANC vs ENC in-earbuds guide.

Your daily activities determine which technology benefits you more. Consider your habits, from listening to music to taking calls. Your needs for quiet or clear communication will point you toward the right feature for your life.

Table of Contents

• What is Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)?
• When ANC Works in Earbuds
• What is Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC)?
• When ENC Works in Earbuds
• How Both ANC & ENC Relate to Noise Cancellation
• ANC or ENC: Which Should Be Your Priority
• Users Should Focus on ANC When Choosing Earbuds
• Users Should Focus on ENC When Choosing Earbuds
• Which one is better for Which Type of Earbud Use
• Possible Downsides of ANC and ENC in Earbuds
• Downsides of ANC Earbuds
• Downsides of ENC Earbuds
• Final Thoughts

What is Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)?

Active noise cancellation (ANC) is your tool for focus. It uses built-in mics and advanced electronics to create a sound wave that directly opposes incoming background noise. This process helps ANC block ambient sounds or noise, such as the rumble you hear on public transport, like local buses. Newer versions with adaptive noise cancellation and AI-enhanced noise rejection make this even more effective.

This active noise cancelling with smart ambient control gives you a key advantage. It is often better for reducing human voices, letting you focus. Continue reading to know how ANC works for earbuds users.

When ANC Works in Earbuds

ANC in your earbuds makes busy places noise-free for you. The system uses multiple microphones to reduce outside disturbance. This lets you enjoy audio at a lower, personalized volume, which is easier on your ears. You can often switch to a speaking mode to talk without taking out your earbuds. This practical use helps in prioritizing the right noise-canceling option for your day.

What is Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC)?

Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC) focuses on your calls. It uses technology to isolate your voice from the noise around you. This voice isolation makes the person you call clearly hear you, even in a loud room or even louder traffic signal. While you may pay a bit extra, an ENC earbud costs slightly more than standard ones. However, the upgrade is worth it for clear conversations.

When ENC Works in Earbuds

ENC in earbuds is explained simply in this guide. As mentioned, it works only for calling or communicating with someone. The technology uses ultra-low-noise microphones to filter out distractions like wind noise, sending a clean version of your voice to the person you are talking to. You won't get any additional benefit from having ENC in your earbuds as a caller. But the person you call will hear your voice more clearly without the background noise.

ENC can make voices sound slightly processed, but the clarity is often worth it.

How Both ANC & ENC Relate to Noise Cancellation

Here is how both ANC and ENC relate to each other for the noise cancellation task in earbuds. Think of them as partners with different jobs. ANC focuses on what you hear, creating immersiveness for your music. ENC focuses on your voice during calls, making it clear to the other person.

This is the ANC vs ENC difference in earbuds explained with the simplest definition. They both work for cancelling noise, but serve different parties during an ongoing conversation. Ultimately, their partnership gives you loud sound reduction for your ears and clear voice transmission for your calls.

ENC does not need to be activated in earbuds, but in the case of ANC, you need to manually enable it.

ANC or ENC: Which Should Be Your Priority

Choosing between ANC and ENC depends entirely on your earbud usage habits. Your daily routine holds the answer to what the difference is between ANC and ENC earbuds for you. This guide helps you decide which feature matters more for your needs in Bangladesh.

Users Should Focus on ANC When Choosing Earbuds

If you are a student studying in your busy home or a daily commuter navigating loud city streets, ANC is your priority. It actively silences any space for you. This feature is perfect for casual music listeners who want to get lost in their playlist without turning up the volume.

If you can directly relate yourself to these things, Realme Buds Air 6, CMF Buds Pro 2, and OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro are the top 3 ANC earbuds we would suggest you buy. They block the constant rumble of buses and crowded areas, helping you concentrate or simply enjoy your audio in peace.

Open-ear earbuds do not have an active noise-cancellation (ANC) feature due to their open-back design.

Users Should Focus on ENC When Choosing Earbuds

Pay more attention to ENC if you are someone who needs earbuds only for calls and video chats. This is also essential for content creators who record voiceovers or host online sessions. ENC ensures your voice comes through clearly without background interference. For those who also prioritize ENC, the CMF Buds PRO 2 are also a good choice with six noise-cancelling mics.

Including mid-range earbuds models like Anker Soundcore P30i with four mics, Oraimo offers affordable ENC earbuds with their SpaceBuds Lite model. These models filter out the common noises found in Bangladeshi households and offices. They make every virtual conversation more professional and easier to understand for the person on the other end. They can reduce up to 50db of background noise during calls and gaming sessions with their ENC feature.

So, can you get both ENC and ANC in one device? Yes, and this combination handles both sides of your audio experience. Apple AirPods Pro 3, Sony WF-1000XM5 TWS Earbuds, and JBL Tour Pro 3 are some earbuds with both ANC and ENC features. Any of these earbuds can currently offer you the best possible noise-cancelling audio experience in Bangladesh.

Which one is better for Which Type of Earbud Use

Your daily activities decide if ANC or ENC is better for you. This breakdown of ANC vs ENC in earbuds shows which one suits you best across different tasks. Understanding these key differences between ANC and ENC helps you pick the right tool. Both improve your listening experience, but differently for each situation.

For Voice & Video Calls

ENC is the clear winner here. It is essential when you are making phone calls in heavily crowded and noisy places, like traffic signals. The technology focuses solely on your voice, filtering out the chaos around you. This ensures the person you are talking to hears every word clearly. A truly vital feature for online teaching and podcast recording.

For Music Listening

ANC is better for music listening. It cancels out steady, low-frequency sounds like bus noise and air conditioner hum. This allows you to hear crystal-clear sound with deep bass and balanced tones without raising the volume. The loud ambient noise of busy traffic signals and public transport in Bangladesh can be surprisingly reduced by just enabling the ANC mode of your earbuds.

For Gaming

Gamers need a mix. Use ANC to immerse yourself in the game's audio by blocking distractions. However, for team-based games, your microphone matters. This is where ENC helps, working to clearly communicate with teammates while gaming by isolating your voice from background sounds in your room. Some earbuds allow you to use both features for a complete audio advantage.

For Long Commuting & Travelling

ANC is your best companion for long commutes. It effectively handles the constant roar of airplanes during flying and the rumble of trains. This creates a peaceful bubble for watching videos or just resting. Meanwhile, the always-on ENC feature ensures your voice comes through clearly on any calls you need to take. This makes your travel communication smooth and uninterrupted.

Possible Downsides of ANC and ENC in Earbuds

No technology is perfect, and knowing the limits helps you set the right expectations. Here, ANC and ENC explained for earbuds would be incomplete without a look at the trade-offs. Understanding these points completes your view of the ENC vs ANC purpose in earbuds.

Downsides of ANC Earbuds

Do you know that enabling ANC rapidly drains your battery in compensation for its efficient noise isolation? It also creates a sense of unawareness by blocking important sounds like traffic. Although ANC earbuds do not directly cause ear health hazards, some Star Tech shop customers frequently report discomforting ear pressure. This is commonly known as "Cabin Pressure" in earbuds. This feature also comes at a higher cost and causes minimal latency, which matters a lot for most gamers.

To save power, you can turn off the ANC feature of your earbuds when you are running out of battery.

Downsides of ENC Earbuds

ENC performance can drop significantly in windy conditions, letting noise through. Its success depends entirely on the microphone quality and its optimal position near your mouth. If the mic is not good or poorly placed, the call quality suffers. Furthermore, the heavy filtering can sometimes affect a call's naturalness. At a moment, you will feel like your voice sounds less like you and more processed to the listener on the other end.

Final Thoughts

We have walked through the ANC vs ENC pros and cons for earbuds. Now you see that the question of ANC or ENC feature on earbuds, which is better, truly depends on your own daily life. Your personal needs for quiet or clear communication are the deciding factors. Moreover, paying more for ANC earbuds is somewhat pointless if you use them in an indoor environment like homes and soundproof office spaces.

In the case of a low budget, we recommend standard earbuds (without ANC) instead of ANC earbuds.

Let your own routine guide your spending. Make a smart choice based on what you really need. You can buy the original units of the ANC and ENC earbuds mentioned in this blog post in Bangladesh from Star Tech.